Success Stories: DIGICorp

Just six months after signing up as a provider company, oDesk jobs account for 25% of five-year-old Ahmedabad, India-based DIGICorp‘s workload. We talked to cofounder Abhishek Desai about oDesk’s part in the rapid growth of his online custom application development business.

Q: Some providers describe a learning curve before establishing themselves on oDesk. When did it click for you?A: I think the best thing I did was creating my profile and my company’s profile as per guidelines provided by oDesk. Also, I apply to carefully selected jobs that I think we are really capable of doing. And I write personalized cover letters for all my applications. I don’t believe in just copy-pasting readymade cover letters. Because of all these, I can say I hit the ground really fast after becoming a member of oDesk.

Q: When you’re choosing which jobs to apply for, what tips you off about the best opportunities, versus the ones you decide not to pursue?A: We tend to apply to jobs of a certain size, usually four weeks or longer. That does not mean we don’t do smaller jobs — if a job is interesting enough, we tend to pursue it. From the job description a buyer has written, you get to know how much the buyer is interested in really going forward. I like to work with a buyer who is equally excited to have his/her project up and running.

Q: If a buyer asks you how to attract the best providers, what’s your advice?A: Carefully choose them by reading their cover letters first. Make sure you have providers who have written a personalized letter for you. This means the provider cares about your job and he/she has already spent time understanding it. After that, it depends on the interview. Go for the provider who is as passionate for your project as you are.

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